Container opening key



Oct. 15, 1935. J. M. HOTHERSALL CONTAINER OPENING KEY Filed Feb. 20, 1953 INVENTOR Z 6 ATTORN Patented. Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER OPENING KEY Application February 20, 1933, Serial No. 657,536 (Claims. (01120 -52) The present invention relates to metallic key opening cans and has for its object broadlyprovision for more easily opening the can by means of a combination perforating and windoff key.

The invention contemplates the provision of a score .line formed in a can wall to define a removable area and a key for removing this area, the key being punched through the can wall within the score line and thereby inserted in a pivotal position so that pivoting of the key initially breaks through the can wall on the score line and then rotation of the key further severs the metal at the base of the score line and winds oif the,re- I movable area.

The principal object of the invention is the of the score line and for further tearing of the metal along the score line as the key winds off the removable area of the can.

An important object of the invention is the provision of an opening key for a can of the char- ,acter described which is provided with a curved puncturing and initial opening part for more easily starting the tearing of the metal at an exact position on the score line.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an opening key for a scored can which is inserted into an exact position relative to the score line and which first breaks through the score line by utilizing a short leverage giving easy initial tearing of the metal, the key thence utilizing a longer leverage for more rapidly winding the removable area on the key as the can is opened.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container and a key embodying the present invention, the view illustrating the initial tearing of the score line in'the opening operation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail taken through the can at a position indicated by the line 22 in Fig. 1, this view showing a part of the can wall in which the removable area is set off by a score line; I

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the opening key as it is being inserted into the can;

Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Fig. 3 illustrating different steps in the opening of the con-. tainer; and

Figl. 6 is a perspective view of the key shown in For the purpose of illustrating the present invention the drawing discloses a. container II which has a' cover or top ,I3 secured in any suitable manner as by a double seam I4. A removable area |5 is set off in the cover l3 by a score 10 line l6 which is cut partially through the wall of the cover. A plurality of defined key inserting positions (two being illustrated) are set off in the removable area l5 of the cover wall by depressions l1 (Figs. 1 and 2) at the base of which the metal may be weakened. These depressions are located at a predetermined distance from the score line It adjacent the ends of the can and just within or inside of the score line.

An opening key 2| (Fig. 6) is formed with a .spaced parallel side walls and 26 joined by a 25 connecting wall 21.

A laterally extending arm 3| is formed as an integral part of the wall 26 at the end of the shank opposite to its head 23 and is curved as shown, the end of the shank being sharpened or beveled at 32 to permit easy insertion into the can wall. By reason of said curvature of the arm the sharp edge thereof acts first, and at the weakened line, before the other parts of the arm begin to lift the severed wall portion I5.

In opening the can the sharpened edge 32 is inserted into one of the defined depressions l1 and is forced downwardly as illustrated in Fig. 3. In fully inserted position a rounded shoulder 33 (Fig. 3), formed at the junction of the arm 31 and 40 the wall 26, is brought within the perforation 34 punched into the can wall by the inserting of the key.

This perforation 34 is made as the metal is turned back at its sides, this turning back being effected by the shape of the sharpened edge 32 of the perforating arm 3|. The bevel of this sharpened edge is substantially all on one side as shown and the metal of the can wall therefore is curled back more on one side of the perforation 34 than on the opposite side. In other words, there is a small curl adjacent the side closest the score line as at 35 and a larger more extended curl opposite as at 36.

These bent back walls around the perforation form a seat which holds the key against lateral shifting as it is turned in a-clockwise direction in its first movement (Fig. 4). This movement brings its sharpened end 32 up and directly under the score line as shown. Further turning of the key then forces this end upwardly tearing the metal underneath the score line for an initial .breaking of the score line as illustrated in Fig. 1.

- The length of the perforating arm 3| determines the leverage of the key in this initial movement and this being relatively short makes an easy opening or severing through the can wall.

Further turning of the key now brings the edge of its wall 25 against the top wall of the cover (Fig. 5) and this edge thereupon becomes the fulcrum on which the key further pivots. The metal of the removable area engaged by the arm 3| of the key bends back and is wound upon the key during its continued rotation. The leverage of the key beginning with its fulcruming movement just described is substantially twice the leverage utilized by the arm 3| in the initial severing. This increases the rapidity with which the removable area is torn away along the score lines, the score line tearing much easier after it has been broken. It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that 'various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A key for opening cans, consisting of a piece of metal blanked to form a transverse handle by which the key may be rotated and having a shank portion bent into channel shape with spaced longitudinal side walls, one of said walls being provided with a laterally extending curved arm adapted to project upwardly and perforate a can, and the other of said walls forming a fulcrum at a distance from said arm and adapted to bear on the can when said shank is turned and when said arm is thereby lifted to tear a can wall along a weakened line.

2. A key for opening cans having a removable area defined by score lines, said key being formed with a channel-shaped shank including spaced side walls, one of said walls having a curved perforating crank-like arm extending laterally from said shank, the end of said perforating arm being initially insertable into the can at a defined position to make an opening through the removable part of the can for holding the said arm against lateral movement and in seated position 5 so that subsequent turning of the key in its seat brings the point of said curved arm upwardly and directly .under the said score line, and further turning of the key lifts its point through the score line from the inside of thecan and severs the removable part of the can from the remaining part.

3. A key for opening cans having a removable area defined by score lines, said key being formed with a shank having transversely spaced fulcrum points at one end thereof, a curved perforating arm extending laterally from said shank, the end of said perforating arm being insertable into the can at a defined position to make an opening through the removable part of the can for providing a'seat for said key, whereby initial turning of the said arm in its seat brings its point directly under the said score line and lifts the point through the said score line with a short leverage exerted from one of said fulcrum points to effect an initial breaking of said score, and thence further turning of the key with combined lifting of the said arm and its seat further severing the removable part of the can with a long leverage exerted from the other of said fulcrum points to more rapidly open the same.

' 4. A key for opening cans having a removable area defined by score lines, said key being formed with a shank, a curved perforating arm extending laterally from said shank, the end of said perforating arm being insertable into the can at a defined position to make an opening through the removable part of the can, and thereby providing a seat, said key having means engageable with said seat, and turning of the said arm with 40 said means in said seat first brings the point of said arm directly under the said score line and lifts the point through the said score line, said arm being relatively short to effect an initial breaking of said score, and said key having additional transversely extending means projecting oppositely to said perforating arm and operable upon further turning of the key to engage the removable part of the can to further sever the removable part with a long leverage to more rapidly open the can.

JOHN M. HOTHERSALL. 

